Palestine 'top priority' for his country, says Saudi envoy

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The Palestinian cause holds top priority for his country, Saudi Arabia's envoy to India today said, amid a buzz of covert talks between the Gulf Kingdom and Israel over Iran.

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New Delhi:

Saud Mohammed Alsati, the envoy, said the international community needs to deal firmly with Israel to compel it to stop occupying Palestinian territories in violation of international laws.

He was speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs on the occasion of the 'International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People' in the presence of Palestinian envoy to India Adnan Abu Alhaijaa.

"I would like to point out that the Palestinian issue has been a top priority for my country. Saudi Arabia strongly supports Palestine's right to self-determination, right to own state on own land and right to return," Alsati said.

Alhaija said it was the United Nation's responsibility to the resolve the question of Palestine and called for concrete coordinated action among countries in hammering out a lasting solution.

Alsati also lauded India's "traditional support" to the Palestinian cause and hoped it would continue.

The Saudi envoy said the occasion was a reminder of the inability of the international community to find a solution to this long-standing conflict and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their "inalienable right to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty".

According to international media reports, Israel has had secret contacts with Saudi Arabia amid mutual concerns over Iran, which both the countries view as a common foe in the Middle East.